Here a couple of quick , poor pictures ( I suck as a photographer) of a sporterized Krag I rescued from a lonely life of a gun shop shelf yesterday. The s/n indicates a 1901 mfg. date. Barrel has been gut to 24 inches and everything reblued and a set of sporter/hunting sights installed. The stock is a Fajen.
I have a weakness for the old Krag.
Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
�If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.
Bless you, we here at the Mauser Rescue Society are well aware that Mauser rifles are not the only poor neglected old soldiers of the world. Your act of kindness could very well mean a new lease on life for a proud old war horse. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed and in closing, as we like to say, adopt a rescue Mauser(or other neglected military bolt) today.
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I don't always shoot Mausers, but when I do...I prefer VZ-24s.
Looks like fun. Get some 220 gr. RN and have at it.
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Nice find. I like them too, having acquired my Grandfather's Krag , a WWI vet. A Lyman or Redfield "no drill" receiver sight is my preference on these "sporter" versions.
Nice find. I like them too, having acquired my Grandfather's Krag , a WWI vet. A Lyman or Redfield "no drill" receiver sight is my preference on these "sporter" versions.
You need to post a picture of it.
Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
�If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.
Pictured are my first Krag and my most recent...The rougher of the two was my Grandad's. He served in France in WWI. While the family told us he brought this home with him, it might very well be he acquired it in the 20's after he returned. Dad said Grandpa was a good shot with the rifle and Dad shot his first deer with it-with full length original barrel and stock. Grampa was a good blacksmith and welder but a poor gunsmith. He cobbled it together and it sat that way for many years until given to me three or four years ago. It actually shoots plenty good enough to take a deer which I intend to do. As usual for me, I couldn't stop with one...others have followed including this last 1896 which was very nicely put together I think. https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/14029063/krag-photos
I don't know about that, but I've owned a sh*t ton of them in my life.
First one was in 1969, at age 16, M1896 cavalry carbine- for the exorbitant cost of $30. It coincided with my first bullet mold- a 155 grain plain base design. I cast the first bullets using an empty soup can and a propane torch and immediately stuffed 20 or 30 of them into Krag cases (with no lube on them, first mistake) over top of a pretty stiff charge of 2400 (second mistake). Out in the neighbors field at my "private shooting range" I rapped those twenty shots lickity-split downrange. First couple shot to the sights and I was cock-a-hoop. By the time I fired the last shot they were spraying all over the hillside. Heck, one or two might still be flying for all I know. I trudged home feeling not so hot after all. That night when I went to clean the gun I saw that the rifling grooves were packed level with lead- it looked like a smoothbore. Lesson learned, at the cost of several evenings and a few bore brushes: lube the damn*d bullets, and don't shoot them at around 2000 fps without a gas check. I went on to kill my first deer with that gun.
Favorite one was a Krag built by Sedgley. It was a three shot repeater (two in the magazine, one up the spout) with its magazine box removed but with the follower and spring cleverly fixed under the solid wood RH side of the classic-styled pistol grip stock, Lyman 48 sight. It went away along with a few other treasures 30 years ago, to help finance 36 acres of Pennsylvania woods.
I think I posted pics of my .22 Maximum Lovell single shot Krag custom, with heavy Marksman-style stock and double set triggers? Built by Hervey Lovell himself probably sometime in the 1930's. It's a whizzer.
Current on again-off again project: a M1896 attributable to a Trooper in the 1st Volunteer Cavalry, (Rough Riders). It came to me as a bare action and is being built as an homage to Townsend Whelen's custom Krag sporter. Griffin&Howe-style stock with kidney cheekpiece, ebony forearm tip, steel furniture, new Criterion barrel, Lyman 48 receiver sight, pretty crotchwood black walnut stock. I'll post pics at some point- it's at a gunsmith buddy's shop where I'm doing the work on it. (The college laboratory workshop that is my day job is not exactly a gun friendly environment.)
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
Pictured are my first Krag and my most recent...The rougher of the two was my Grandad's. He served in France in WWI. While the family told us he brought this home with him, it might very well be he acquired it in the 20's after he returned. Dad said Grandpa was a good shot with the rifle and Dad shot his first deer with it-with full length original barrel and stock. Grampa was a good blacksmith and welder but a poor gunsmith. He cobbled it together and it sat that way for many years until given to me three or four years ago. It actually shoots plenty good enough to take a deer which I intend to do. As usual for me, I couldn't stop with one...others have followed including this last 1896 which was very nicely put together I think. https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/galleries/14029063/krag-photos
Grand Rifles!
Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
�If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.
I don't know about that, but I've owned a sh*t ton of them in my life.
First one was in 1969, at age 16, M1896 cavalry carbine- for the exorbitant cost of $30. It coincided with my first bullet mold- a 155 grain plain base design. I cast the first bullets using an empty soup can and a propane torch and immediately stuffed 20 or 30 of them into Krag cases (with no lube on them, first mistake) over top of a pretty stiff charge of 2400 (second mistake). Out in the neighbors field at my "private shooting range" I rapped those twenty shots lickity-split downrange. First couple shot to the sights and I was cock-a-hoop. By the time I fired the last shot they were spraying all over the hillside. Heck, one or two might still be flying for all I know. I trudged home feeling not so hot after all. That night when I went to clean the gun I saw that the rifling grooves were packed level with lead- it looked like a smoothbore. Lesson learned, at the cost of several evenings and a few bore brushes: lube the damn*d bullets, and don't shoot them at around 2000 fps without a gas check. I went on to kill my first deer with that gun.
Favorite one was a Krag built by Sedgley. It was a three shot repeater (two in the magazine, one up the spout) with its magazine box removed but with the follower and spring cleverly fixed under the solid wood RH side of the classic-styled pistol grip stock, Lyman 48 sight. It went away along with a few other treasures 30 years ago, to help finance 36 acres of Pennsylvania woods.
I think I posted pics of my .22 Maximum Lovell single shot Krag custom, with heavy Marksman-style stock and double set triggers? Built by Hervey Lovell himself probably sometime in the 1930's. It's a whizzer.
Current on again-off again project: a M1896 attributable to a Trooper in the 1st Volunteer Cavalry, (Rough Riders). It came to me as a bare action and is being built as an homage to Townsend Whelen's custom Krag sporter. Griffin&Howe-style stock with kidney cheekpiece, ebony forearm tip, steel furniture, new Criterion barrel, Lyman 48 receiver sight, pretty crotchwood black walnut stock. I'll post pics at some point- it's at a gunsmith buddy's shop where I'm doing the work on it. (The college laboratory workshop that is my day job is not exactly a gun friendly environment.)
I look forward to seeing your latest project when its finished.
Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
�If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.
Very nice Krag sporters hillbillybear and LEADMINER. Congrats to you both on the rifles. I am in the middle of refinishing the stock on my first Krag sporter right now. An 1894 Norwegian. All I know is that after spending some time at the range with a Krag, I already hope to have a second Krag sporter project again someday! Keep the Krag updates coming guys!
Did you happen to see Muledeer's article in Rifle? It was on his 6.5 Nor Krag, as I recall. Been awhile back but I just saw my copy the other day. It is somewhere around here.
I have not seen Muledeer's article on the Krag. I saw it was listed in the table of contents in one of his "Gun Gack" books. I hope to purchase the book eventually. I will have to look through my pile of "Rifle" magazines and see if I have it.
How did that old soldiers ditty go, referring to the Philippine Insurrection? "..and we'll civilize them with the Krag."
Nice rifle!!
Damn, damn, damn the Filipinos! Cut throat khakiac ladrones! Underneath the starry flag, Civilize them with a Krag*, And return us to our beloved home.
Biebs- that is what started my enjoyment of the Krag-except mine was my Grandfather's. When I got mine, the loading gate spring had broken and the gate would not "snap" closed. Pretty easy fix I was able to do and found quite a few parts still available. Later I bought an action from Gary and a barrel and stock elsewhere. Now, all my Krags are non-original sporters which is what I decided I most wanted.
In the land of dopey dreams Happy pretty Phillipines Where the bolo man goes running night and day Where talagos steal and lie, and Americanos die And our soldiers they all sing this happy lay!
Damn, damn, damn the filipinos Cross-eyed khakiac ladrones And beneath our starry flag Civilize em with a Krag And return us to our own beloved home
Underneath the nippa thatch where the skinny chickens scratch Only refuge from the hot sun all day long When I lay me down to sleep slimy lizards or’ me creep And our soldiers they are sing this happy song.
Refrain
Social graces they are few and the women smoke and chew And the the men do things the Padres say are wrong But they Padres cut no ice for they feed on fish and rice And our soldiers they all sing this happy song
Refrain
Whew!!!!!! All from memory!!! Roninphx likes it when I sing it to him while at the SW gathering!! LOL
Last edited by kaywoodie; 08/07/19.
Founder Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
Shew me thy ways, O LORD: teach me thy paths. "there are few better cartridges on Earth than the 7 x 57mm Mauser" "the .30 Springfield is light, accurate, penetrating, and has surprising stopping power"
That top one I gave to Rockinbbar. I felt he needed it! 😉
After all, He did give me a nice new Husqvarna garden tiller.
Founder Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
A bittersweet acquisition. I inherited this one, this week. Minty bore.
Founder Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
Looks like one to treasure. Honest looking Krag there.
Thanks compadre. It’s a keeper!
Founder Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
Finally got a chance to shoot this one. functions and feeds perfectly ( I always marvel at te Krag magazine) but my eyes are so bad I can't hit a bull in the ass with open sights.
I may check in to scoping it or may just sell it to someone with good eyesight.
Last edited by hillbillybear; 08/22/19.
Member: Clan of the Turdlike People.
Courage is Fear that has said its Prayers
�If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.� Ronald Reagan.
Just mho, if you have to D&T anything, it decreases its value. But then again it’s really what all makes you happy! So if you wanna put a scope on your Krag l, go ahead.
Chances are if it has already been cut down, or sporterized, you are certainly not going to decrease it’s value any more. So do what make’s you happy? And good hunting!!! Krags are fun!
Founder Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
As for staying in the open sights game, with aging eyeballs, try wearing a pair of low magnification el-cheapo reading glasses. 1.00 or 1.25x is good. They will sharpen the sights sufficiently for precise aiming while at the same time not distorting the target so bad as to render it un-seeable.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
I have never shot a Krag, but I will be shooting my two Krags in 2 weeks.
I got an 1899 carbine made in 1900 for $425 in 2017. Gray finish, perfect bore, sporterized stock. I got an 1899 carbine made in 1902 for $350 in 2018. Reblued, rotten bore, complete stock.
I swapped some parts.
One is now a complete cabrine with perfect 30-40 bore.
On the other I whittled a 4.5 pound Bartlein barrel down to 2.5 pounds and chambered it for 25 Krag Ackley. I got an old semi inletted sporter stock. I modified an S&K scope mount for drill and tap. I tapped the front ring for 1/4-28 like the front of a Rem700. I glass bedded with 3 pillars plus a recoil abutment. The barrel is in the paint box right now, curing desert tan aluma hyde II
I will be running both rifles at 43,555 psi.
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. -Ernest Hemingway The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.-- Edward John Phelps
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
It read that the Krag was developed for the 220 gr round nose 30 cal bullet. I hear that some Krags will not magazine feed pointed bullets in 30-40 ammo. My 1900 built Krag will feed 30-40 pointed bullets. My 1902 built 25 Krag would not feed pointed bullets. So I had to carve out a feed ramp in the breech, as shown in this video. Now the 25Krag Ackley feeds.
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. -Ernest Hemingway The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.-- Edward John Phelps
actually kaywoodie does sing that, quite well too. my first exposure to a Krag was in the 50's my dad had one. loaned it to a brother in law who then hocked it. My dad swore it was one of the best deer rifles around. fast forward many years and i still had Krag on the brain. I found one in a pawn shop northern nevada, bannerman conversion it turned out to be, for $175 bucks. it was a no brainer buy in that it had an original period sling, a muzzle cover, and a krag cleaning kit, all worth $175bucks, forget the rifle. next one was a complete long rifle, untouched, cartouches and everything, followed a few years later by a carbine version. mostly the only thing i have fired is home cast lead in the bannerman. A friend of mine has one obtained from his grandfather in the utah national guard,turn of the century, he still uses it on elk. i load the 220gr roundnose for him.
I was out in a blizzard a few years ago chasing deer. my exfriend was commenting on my choice of rifles a remington 760 carbine in 30.06, loaded with 220gr round nose, loaded to the krag load at 2000fps. he kept telling me it wasn't good beyond 100yards. That's why he is an ex friend.
i have heard right or wrong, a lot of krag barrels are not .308. i have not taken the time to slug mine, but it might not be a bad idea to do same few years ago, i rescued a danish krag from the racks at cabella's. would love to find an original military stock as this one has been cut down. Also would like to find a source of ammunition for the old girl. I think it was first year production for the danish krag.
The 1902 with 25 Krag Ackley Bartlein barrel is going hunting in 2019.
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. -Ernest Hemingway The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.-- Edward John Phelps
This 1900 mfg Krag with the pistol scope has a perfect bore. I did not want to modify it. I handloaded 30-40 ammo and will be hunting Saturday.
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. -Ernest Hemingway The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.-- Edward John Phelps
I stink like cutting fluid. I was drilling and tapping, milling, lathe work, filing...
I gotta get the smell of tap magic out of here before the wife gets home.
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. -Ernest Hemingway The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.-- Edward John Phelps
i have heard right or wrong, a lot of krag barrels are not .308. i have not taken the time to slug mine, but it might not be a bad idea to do same few years ago, i rescued a danish krag from the racks at cabella's. would love to find an original military stock as this one has been cut down. Also would like to find a source of ammunition for the old girl. I think it was first year production for the danish krag.
What caliber is the Dane?
For those without thumbs, it's s Garden fookin Island, not Hawaii
I've never slugged the bore on my Krag, but it shoots very well with 180gr Nosler BT. It also feeds well, I modified magazine cutoff when I put the Redfield 102K on it and that was the trick. Krags, like a lot of old rifles, have a certain class that modern firearms just don't have. Would love to have a .25 Krag, saw one at a gunshow here on a 1885 High-wall, beautiful but out of my price range.
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